The design of dual-switch fluorescence intensity ratio thermometry with high sensitivity and thermochromism based on a combination strategy of intervalence charge transfer and up-conversion fluorescence thermal enhancement.

Currently, the temperature sensing performances of inorganic photoluminescence materials based on fluorescence intensity ratio technology have become a research hotspot in the optical thermometry field due to their non-contact sensing, fast response and high stability. However, several problems have obstructed the development of optical temperature sensing materials, including low sensitivity and narrow temperature measurement ranges. In view of the above dilemma, a new optical thermometer La2Mo3O12:Yb3+,Pr3+ designed based on the combination strategy of intervalence charge transfer and up-conversion fluorescence thermal enhancement was developed. Under excitation at 450 nm, the thermometer can work in a range from 298 to 648 K and the relative sensitivity reaches as high as 2.000% K-1 at 648 K. Under excitation at 980 nm, the thermometer can sense temperature with a wide range from 298 to 748 K and the relative sensitivity reaches as high as 4.325% K-1 at 598 K. A dual-switch optical temperature sensing material with high-sensitivity and a wide temperature measurement range has been successfully developed. Our research design strategies will give inspiration to the research on multi-switch temperature sensing materials with high sensitivity and a wide temperature measurement range.

Trivalent Chromium Ions Doped Fluorides with Both Broad Emission Bandwidth and Excellent Luminescence Thermal Stability.

Recently, trivalent chromium ion doped phosphors have exhibited significant application potential in broadband near-infrared (NIR) phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (pc-LEDs). However, developing an NIR phosphor with both broad emission bandwidth and excellent luminescence thermal stability is still a great challenge. Here, we demonstrate an NIR phosphor, ScF3:Cr3+, which can fulfill both conditions simultaneously. The prepared phosphors show broadband emission in the range of 700 to 1100 nm, with a full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 140 nm peaking at 853 nm. These phosphors also demonstrate an excellent luminescence thermal stability (the emission intensity of ScF3:Cr3+ keeps 85.5% at 150 °C compared with the value at room temperature). An NIR pc-LED based on blue LED chips was fabricated and tested. The results show that the NIR pc-LED can yield strong broadband NIR emission. This work not only provides a promising phosphor for the application of NIR pc-LEDs but also has important guiding significance for effect of synthesis conditions on the luminescence properties of Cr3+-doped fluorides.

Integrin αvß3-targeted radionuclide therapy combined with immune checkpoint blockade immunotherapy synergistically enhances anti-tumor efficacy.

RATIONALE: Radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy has revealed promising outcomes in both preclinical studies and ongoing clinical trials. Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) is a branch of radiotherapy concerned with the use of radioisotopes, radiolabeled molecules or nanoparticles that deliver particulate radiation to cancer cells. TRT is a promising approach in cases of metastatic disease where conventional treatments are no longer effective. The increasing use of TRT raises the question of how to best integrate TRT with immunotherapy. In this study, we proposed a novel therapeutic regimen that combined programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1)-based immunotherapy with peptide-based TRT (177Lu as the radionuclide) in the murine colon cancer model. METHODS: To explore the most appropriate timing of immunotherapy after radionuclide therapy, the anti-PD-L1 antibody (αPD-L1 mAb) was delivered in a concurrent or sequential manner when 177Lu TRT was given. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that TRT led to an acute increase in PD-L1 expression on T cells, and TRT in combination with αPD-L1 mAb stimulated the infiltration of CD8+ T cells, which improved local tumor control, overall survival and protection against tumor rechallenge. Moreover, our data revealed that the time window for this combination therapy may be critical to outcome. CONCLUSIONS: This therapeutic combination may be a promising approach to treating metastatic tumors in which TRT can be used. Clinical translation of the result would suggest that concurrent rather than sequential blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis combined with TRT improves overall survival and long-term tumor control.

A Nomogram for the Prediction of Prognosis in Patients With Distant Metastases of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Background: Patients with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) have heterogeneous survival outcomes. This study aimed to establish an effective prognostic nomogram for patients with NPC with distant metastases using easily determined factors. Methods: The nomogram was based on a retrospective study of 103 patients with metastatic NPC at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University during January 2009-March 2016. Nomogram performance was evaluated using a concordance index (C-index) and assessed using calibration plot. Bootstraps with 1,000 resamples were applied to these analyses. Results: In univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analyses, chemotherapy, metastatic liver involvement, number of tumor metastases, N stage and derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio correlated with overall survival (OS). The recurrence probability calibration curve indicated good agreement between nomogram-based predictions and actual observations. For OS predictions, the nomogram had a C-index of 0.824 (95% confidence interval, 0.74-0.91). The stratification by nomogram score of patients into different subgroups showed significant distinction. Conclusion: This novel nomogram comprises factors that are easily determined at most hospitals and can predict survival in patients with distant metastases of NPC. This model can precisely estimate the survival of individual patients and identify subgroups of patients requiring specific therapeutic strategies.